SKYHAWK MEN'S HOOPS TRAVELS TO MARSHALL FOR 2017-18 SEASON OPENER ON FRIDAY

November 7, 2017

MARTIN, Tenn. – The 67th season of University of Tennessee at Martin men’s basketball officially begins when the Skyhawks travel to Huntington, W.Va. for a Friday, Nov. 10 matchup against Marshall out of Conference USA. Tipoff from the Cam Henderson Center is set for 7 p.m. CST.

UT Martin head coach Anthony Stewart presides over a roster that includes four returners and 10 newcomers. The Skyhawks have won 20-plus games for three straight seasons for the first time in program history (including a school-record 22 wins last year) and will look to make their fourth consecutive postseason bid in 2017-18.

Senior guard Matthew Butler is UT Martin’s lone returning starter, as the Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference honoree averaged 13.7 points, 3.7 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game in 2016-17. He knocked down 82 trifectas while dialing up three 25-plus point performances as a redshirt junior.

Fatodd Lewis (6.6 points, 4.3 rebounds per game) is expected to slide into a starting role after serving as UT Martin’s sixth man last season, as he is joined by returning senior Kahari Beaufort (3.2 points per game, six starts) and returning sophomore Mike Fofana (52.4 percent shooting in 19 games).

Marshall is coming off its first 20-win season since 2011-12 and has improved each season under head coach Dan D’Antoni (11 wins in 2014-15, 17 wins in 2015-16, 20 wins in 2016-17). Reigning Conference USA first team honoree Jon Elmore is the only returning starter for the Thundering Herd, as he compiled 19.7 points, 5.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds as a sophomore last season for an offense that ranked seventh in Division-I basketball in scoring (85.6 points per contest).

Junior guard CJ Burks led Marshall with 20.5 points per game on 60 percent shooting (15-of-25) in exhibition wins over West Virginia Tech (99-81 on Oct. 29) and West Virginia Wesleyan (95-76 on Nov. 5).

A live video stream of the game will be available, as that link and links for the Marshall radio broadcast and live stats can be found at the top of the webpage.